The ninth annual Body Issue from ESPN will be released in less than two weeks, however, the list of athletes that will be taking it all off and posing in the buff is already out. USA Today’s For the Win has indicated that there will be 23 athletes stripping down for the 2017 edition of the Body Issue, and here they are:

The most familiar names to sports fans here in the United States will include Dallas Cowboys’ superstar running back Ezekiel Elliott, New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman and Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez.

Baez is still the toast of the town in Chicago and will be for years to come, as he helped the Cubs to their first World Series title in over 100 years last November. While those athletes are constantly in the spotlight, there are a few names on the list that may not ring a bell for many. Although, after the 2017 Body Issue is released they will surely become etched in many fans’ minds for a long time to come.

Ertz family matters

Along with Elliott, Edelman and Baez is Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics, and San Jose Sharks teammates Brent Burns and Joe Thornton. How do you top teammates? How about a husband and wife duo? Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz is making it a family affair as he and his wife, U.S.

women's soccer team star Julie Ertz will be baring it all in the upcoming edition.

Ertz is currently playing for the Chicago Red Stars and is a former member of the U.S. women’s soccer team. She will be featured side by side in this year’s ESPN the Magazine’s Body issue with her NFL star husband. Talk about an athletic power couple.

USA hockey team

So far, the 2017 ESPN Body Issue contains NHL teammates and a married couple. Now how about an entire hockey team? Well, while it isn't the entire USA squad, quite a few players will be in the upcoming issue, including Kacey Bellamy, Brianna Decker, Meghan Duggan, Monique Lamoureux-Morando, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, and Alex Rigsby.

The former US hockey reps all decided that they would throw their inhibitions out the door and bare it all for the upcoming Body Issue.

Also appearing will be 2016 WNBA most valuable player Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks, along with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. The tennis star has been turning heads since she hit the pro circuit with her great play and now she will be doing it for a different reason.

Other athletes include Olympic figure skater Ashley Wagner, pro softball player A.J. Andrews, Olympic freestyle skiing silver medalist Gus Kenworthy and New Zealand All Blacks center Malakai Fekitoa. Last but far from least is MMA fighter Michelle Waterson, snowboarder Kirstie Ennis, and Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills. Williams-Mills is an Olympic track and field medalist, who is also a breast cancer survivor. She will be the first breast cancer survivor to be in a Body Issue.
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